Solo Leveling : 10 Shadow Technique

A man stepped out of the gate, standing at an imposing 6 feet 2 inches. His sharp eyes carried a piercing intensity, making anyone who met his gaze feel as if he could see right through them.

This was Finn.

He had been pushing himself non-stop, clearing dungeons one after another. Now, he was making his way back to his manager.

"Yo, Jess. We're heading to the fourth one next, right?" Finn asked, looking at a red-haired woman standing by the car.

Jess Thornsman—his new manager—was the daughter of a powerful conglomerate. Finn had hired her on a whim when he realized he needed someone to handle his paperwork. Since then, he had dumped every bit of administrative work onto her without a second thought.

"Yes, and the next one is a B-Rank gate," Jess replied, adjusting the bag slung over her shoulder.

Finn sighed, shaking his head. "Jess, didn't I tell you? Just let me know what you need. I've got a damn tent in my shadow right now. You don't need to carry all that stuff."

Without waiting for her response, he took the backpack from her and tossed it into his shadow storage. Then, he climbed into the car, waiting for Jess to follow.

As soon as she got in, she glanced over and saw Finn casually munching on something. She took a closer look—and immediately regretted it.

"Are you… eating ground coffee beans?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Finn grinned and held out a small container filled with coffee bean capsules. "Want some? These things will wake you right up."

Jess shook her head. "No thanks. I actually enjoy sleeping."

Finn just shrugged, tossing another capsule into his mouth. Coffee, I love you.

Just as he was savoring the bitter taste, an image of a certain girl flashed through his mind. He blinked, then frowned slightly.

"Hey, when's my next free day?" Finn asked, turning to Jess.

She checked her tablet before answering. "Monday."

Finn furrowed his brows. "But it is Monday."

Jess chuckled. "Yeah. I meant next Monday."

Finn's expression immediately darkened. "Wait—you mean I'm booked for an entire week?"

Jess nodded without hesitation.

Finn groaned. "I thought you handled all the paperwork!"

Jess sighed, pulling up to a red light. "Sir, it's not just paperwork. You actually have to be there sometimes. And, you know… sign things yourself."

Finn let out another dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. But don't put anything on next Monday—or any day after that—for at least a week."

Jess hesitated as the light turned green and the car started moving again. "Sir, I don't know if I can promise a full week. The guild still needs their S-Rank hunter."

Finn rubbed his chin in thought. After a few seconds, he exhaled sharply. "Alright. Remember that guild you wanted to start?"

Jess's eyes lit up. She could feel the fish biting the bait. "Yeah?"

"We're doing it," Finn said. "But I get to name it."

Jess narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Just please… don't name it anything close to 'chicken.'"

Finn smirked. "yeah noting close to it, but how about Red Chicken."

//--\\

Days later, Finn was shaking hands with a man—James Thornsman. Behind him stood Jess, her arms crossed as she watched the exchange.

"Thank you, Finn. And please, take care of my daughter," James said, his tone both serious and appreciative.

Finn smirked but nodded. "Of course. No promises, though. She's got a temper."

Jess scoffed behind him, but before she could retort, James suddenly blinked as if remembering something. He reached into a nearby case and pulled out a sleek, reinforced box.

"Oh, by the way," James said, handing the case to Finn, "the weapon you ordered is finally here. Made from the horns of that Two-Tailed Lightning Wolf you took down."

Finn's eyes lit up as he opened the case. Inside, two gleaming golden Tonfa Hammers rested in perfectly molded slots. The craftsmanship was immaculate, the metal faintly crackling with residual energy.

'Man, these look insane. Taking down that shockwave beast was totally worth it. And now I've got its abilities too,' Finn thought, his grin widening.

Snapping the case shut, he stood up and slung it over his shoulder. As he made his way toward the exit, he casually called out to Jess without even looking back.

"Hey, Jess—since I've got some free time, book me a training field, will ya? Thanks."

Jess blinked, momentarily stunned. Then she sighed, rubbing her temples.

"I hate it when he does that... I never even get a chance to answer," she muttered before reluctantly pulling out her phone

The open training field hummed with tension as Finn rolled his shoulders, gripping his new weapons. The weight felt different from a sword, but not in a bad way. The golden Tonfa Hammers pulsed with faint arcs of electricity, reacting to his energy like they were eager to be used.

Finn gave them a few test swings, the hammerheads cutting through the air with a satisfying whump.

"Alright, let's see what you can do," he muttered, shifting into a stance. He turned to the two figures emerging from his shadow—his Shikigami sparring partners.

The first was Piercing Ox, its massive frame stomping onto the field, nostrils flaring as it pawed the ground. The second was Divine Dogs, their black and white forms circling Finn, growling in anticipation.

Jess, watching from the sidelines, crossed her arms. "You sure you want to test them like this? Those aren't some random goblins. Your Shikigami have been eating well lately."

Finn smirked. "That's exactly why I wanna test them out. If they're not strong, what's the point?"

Jess sighed, stepping back. "Your funeral."

Finn spun the Tonfa Hammers, letting his energy surge into them. Immediately, the golden engravings crackled with blue lightning, sending small sparks dancing across the ground.

"Alright, let's go!"

Piercing Ox charged first, its massive horns lowering like a battering ram.

Finn sidestepped, flipping one of the Tonfa Hammers in a reverse grip and slamming the hammerhead into its skull. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, forcing the beast to skid back, its hooves dragging deep trenches into the ground.

Finn whistled. "Damn, that felt good."

The Divine Dogs lunged next. Finn barely had time to react before the black one leapt at his throat. He pivoted, bringing up his left Tonfa Hammer just in time to catch the fangs with the handle. With a sharp twist, he redirected the momentum, sending the dog flying into the dirt.

But the white one was already on him.

Finn didn't block—he spun instead, using the momentum to bring his right hammer down. The second Divine Dog yelped as a burst of lightning-infused energy struck its side, sending it tumbling across the field.

Finn cracked his neck. "Okay, these things might be my new favorite."

Piercing Ox roared, shaking off the previous attack. Then it stomped the ground, sending a shockwave of its own. Finn felt the tremor beneath his feet. He jumped, flipping mid-air, and raised both Tonfa Hammers above his head.

As he descended, the weapons shifted, the blue lightning turning red—a more concentrated form of his power.

"Let's see how you like this!"

He slammed both hammers down on the beast's back.

A deafening boom erupted as the impact released a red lightning shockwave, sending Piercing Ox crashing to the ground, its massive body leaving a crater. Dust and static filled the air as Finn landed gracefully, spinning one hammer around his wrist before resting it on his shoulder.

The Divine Dogs whimpered, and Piercing Ox twitched, defeated.

Finn let out a breath, rolling his wrists. "Alright, these are keepers."

Jess clapped, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah, real flashy. You gonna name them?"

Finn looked at the Tonfa Hammers, feeling their pulsing energy in his grip. He smirked.

"I'll think about it."